BLAMELESS SORROWS

28 Outside!

Heri's Point of view.

I sigh in relief as I herd Tilbe is fine.

But now that, that concern is taken care of. Both Vann and me look back at the guy sitting by the floor while holding Tilbe's hand tightly and his eye blind folded with a pale blue scarf. While we were looking at him confusedly he speak up.

Axel: The wound you are speaking of is the one you heal as a kid and yes she was indeed attack by a beast like animal in the forest when she was young, so the injury.

Vann nod in understanding while I do too, as I also knew Tilbe was badly hurt once when she was a kid, and following which follow the palace partly shutting down. Many speculate it's to tightened the security but no one know for sure.

I wonder how he is so sure that it is that wound acting up?

Vann: This is a bit strange, cause although I was young back then and couldn't do as much as I can now, there is no chance that the wound I heal will reoccur. Cause more than healing them, my ability is to bless them with new cells. So this is weird.

I once again nod at that, agreeing with him fully.

Axel: But she is okay now right?

Vann nod his head, but realising he cannot see us, he word his word out.

Vann: Yes she should be for now, but since it have reoccur once, the wound might open up like it did today, again. So we need to find out what went wrong in my ability or her body.

The guy nod his head while I look at him weirdly, he was surely not with a blindfold when he come in, so why the need now.

Heri: Iam sorry to ask this, but why the blindfold? Is your eyes hurt anywhere too by any chance?

He shake his head in a no.

Heri: If it is physical problem, we can let Vann take a look at it. That is If you want him too, of course.

He once again shake his head in a no. While I look at him in more confusion, if he is hurt then why does he not want to heal himself, and if he is not hurt then why is he blindfolding himself?

Just as I was thinking about this, Vann ask something much more complicated.

Vann: But how do you know that Iam the healer?

I also look back at him surprised. Oh yes, why did I not think of this sooner, there is no one who know the healer is Vann and Vann is the healer, except the royal family which is Tilbe and her grandpa and my family which is me and our parents and no one else.

Axel: It will be better for you if you don't know that? Moreover today will be the last day that you will see of me, if such thing don't happen again. So for the both of us, just don't be curious.

Vann look at him in suspicion while I look at him in confusion.

Vann: How do you know Tilbe then?

He sigh once again at the question while I look at him hopefully.

I think he is her family of some sort cause they really look alike, from their bright red hair to their pale skin and to their black eye. Iam pretty sure he have a black eye from what I see before.

Axel: Can I take her back now, is she safe to go?

Well isn't that a subtle way to change the topic.

Vann: She need to wake up first for me to know that everything is alright. So, no she can't go yet.

He sigh as he heard that.

Axel: Can I say something to you?

Vann look at him a bit confused as to what he will say while I look at him in wonder.

Vann: Sure, although I don't know who you are and what the hell are you doing with Tilbe, who is this sick by the way.

He chuckled at that.

Axel: I was wondering why you didn't freak out before when you saw a stranger with her, but I guess you just didn't word it yet.

Vann: Because her well being always comes first.

He smile this time, although it is just a small one.

Axel: Tilbe told me that Vann is the best in everything and that you are so good to her. She quickly get excited whenever she have to meet you while she get sullen when you dont meet her for a while.

This time Vann smile, the sweet soft smile reserve only for Tilbe. He hold Tilbe's other hand and softly kiss it which make me swoon on the inside.

Axel: Her happiness seems to depend on you a lot. Iam telling you this because, we will probably never meet again. Please take care of her well for me. Protect her when she needs it, scold her when she is wrong and persuade her when she is not happy of anything. Please make her be always happy, and make her smile and laugh around a lot.

Vann look at him in slight confusion as well as respect for some reason, while I continue to wonder who he is and who is he to Tilbe.

Vann: I remember, I didn't freak out that Tilbe is with a stranger because of the care and panic I see in you as she lay there in pain. it was so sincere that even my heart could not judge it. So please help me in taking care of her, and even me I promise I will make sure that she always have a reason to be happy.

This time, the guy smile a small smile once again but sigh at the end.

Axel: You seem to really really love her.

Vann nod his head confidently and with a more confident voice said.

Vann: I do, even more than my life. And I will make sure I protect her with all my might.

Axel: Thats a relief, little gift really found herself a good man.

Vann look at him and it seems something click in his mind. As he said although hesitantly but confidently.

Vann: You are Ax, aren't you?

Ax? I have never heard of this.

Axel: How did you know? Although Tilbe is not the best at keeping secrets but she is also not the type to share it openly.

Vann look at Tilbe while softly caress her face, swiping away the little hair that got in her face.

Vann: Tilbe seems to love and like you a lot. Cause although she dont say anything directly and mention you directly, when she tell any of her story one way or another you always appear, even without her knowing that she have said something about you.

The guy who is Ax, now smile heart warmingly while he clutch his hand which is holding Tilbe's a little firmer.

Axel: That really sound like something Tilbe will do. but why didn't you ask her why she didn't tell you about me or anything about me at all?

Vann seems to be in a bit of his own thought for a while but then answer.

Vann: There is only two secret between Tilbe and me, one is what is her favourite fruit and the other one is who this Ax fellow is. She protect them with all her might, so I count it as my duty to respect her choice and act like I don't know anything when she make a slip here and there.

Ax nod in agreement when he said that.

Axel: Don't mind her secrets, she just can't say it cause it is not in her control. And yes, Iam her cousin brother and nothing else, so let your mind be at ease. I can literally see the uneasiness in them.

Wait, does this mean their is one more royal that the whole of Iklu don't know of. Can he really just say it like this, in the open when no one know about it.

But if it's her cousin, that mean he is the son of the princess. Yes, she did have a son, but all of us figure he don't settle on Iklu, he was here once a long time back but he left like ten years back and never return, so how come he is right here?

Vann: Iam just a human, jealousy and doubt are my second nature.

Ax chuckled once more at that. And also is that the only thing he have to say, like after he just reveal such a huge thing?

Axel: And I expect, you won't say anything about my arrival to anyone.

Vann: Of course.

After he said that, there was silence for a while but then he turn my way and tilt up his head as if expecting me to answer. Oh wait he is expecting me to answer.

Heri: I won't say anything either. But if the information must be of such secretive nature, why did you tell us so easily? We might have just lied to you, you never know.

He shrug at my answer and turn away again as if what Iam saying is just a mere pointless thing.

Axel: I just know what is the truth, So it's fine.

Hmm, I want to say it to everyone so I can prove him wrong, his confidence irk me for some reason.

Vann: You don't have to answer if you don't want to but why do you keep your existence a secret? Even Tilbe won't share anything about you.

Heavy silence follow after that, with the atmosphere becoming much more shallow and grief.

And Vann must also have pick up the environment so he quickly change the topic.

Vann: If you dont want to answer that, then what is your favourite fruit? Or like Tilbe, is that one of your secret too?

He chuckled at his lame excuse to change the subject while I look at my brother unimpressed.

Axel: Tilbe's favourite is also my favourite.

Wow, did he just c***k a joke? I never expect this.

Vann: Thank you, Iam suddenly filled with all the necessary information now.

He said it dully, sarcasm dripping from each of his words. While Ax just shrug again with a small playful smile on his face.

And then silence follow again, while Vann once again try to know something of this mysterious man.

Vann: Then where do you stay, is it in Iklu?

Axel: I stay in the most obvious place in Iklu, it's just that people can't know Iam there.

Seriously all the knowledge we get from him, note my sarcasm.

Even Vann give up this time with a sigh, and thus silence follow for a bit again but not for long, as Tilbe stir a little and groan a bit in discomfort alarming everyone of us.

We all went over to her while she slowly open her eyes and the first thing she said shock us to our very core.

Tilbe: Some outsiders have got in Iklu, with no company and no permission!